Hydrocortisone 10mg Tablets
HYDROCORTISONE 10MG TABLETS
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Your medicine is available using the name Hydrocortisone 10mg Tablets but will be referred to as Hydrocortisone Tablets throughout this leaflet.
This leaflet contains important information about Hydrocortisone Tablets. Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
■ Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
■ If you have further questions, please ask your doctor or your pharmacist.
■ This medicine has been prescribed for you personally and you should not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
■ If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
■ Hydrocortisone Tablets are a steroid medicine,
prescribed for many different conditions, including serious illnesses
■ You need to take it regularly to get the maximum benefit
■ Don't stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor - you may need to reduce the dose gradually
■ Hydrocortisone Tablets can cause side effects in some people (read 'Possible side effects' section below). Some problems such as mood changes (feeling depressed, or 'high'), or stomach problems can happen straight away. If you feel unwell in any way, keep taking your tablets, but see your doctor straight away
■ Some side effects only happen after weeks or months. These include weakness of arms and legs, or developing a rounder face (read 'Possible side effects' section for more information)
■ If you take it for more than 3 weeks, you will get a blue 'steroid card': always keep it with you and show it to any doctor or nurse treating you
■ Keep away from people who have chickenpox or shingles, if you have never had them. They could affect you severely. If you do come into contact with chickenpox or shingles, see your doctor straight away.
Now read the rest of this leaflet. It includes other important information on the safe and effective use of this medicine that might be especially important for you.
In this leaflet
1. What Hydrocortisone Tablets are and what are they used for
2. Before taking Hydrocortisone Tablets
3. How to take Hydrocortisone Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Hydrocortisone Tablets
6. Further information
1. What Hydrocortisone Tablets are and what are they used for
Hydrocortisone Tablets contain a medicine called hydrocortisone. This belongs to a group of medicines called 'steroids'. Their full name is corticosteroids. These corticosteroids occur naturally in the body, and help to maintain health and well-being. Boosting your body with extra corticosteroid (such as Hydrocortisone Tablets) is an effective way to treat various illnesses involving inflammation in the body. Hydrocortisone Tablets reduce this inflammation, which could otherwise go on making your condition worse. You must take this medicine regularly to get maximum benefit from it.
Hydrocortisone Tablets are used for:
■ adding hydrocortisone usually made naturally in the body because part of the adrenal gland is not working properly
■ adding hydrocortisone after injuries, surgery or other stressful events
■ some other types of illness.
Ask your doctor to explain why you have been given Hydrocortisone Tablets if you are unsure.
2. Before taking Hydrocortisone Tablets
Before you take Hydrocortisone Tablets
Check with your doctor first if
■ You have ever had severe depression or manic depression (bipolar disorder). This includes having had depression before or while taking steroid medicines like Hydrocortisone Tablets.
■ any of your close family has had these illnesses.
If either of these applies to you, talk to a doctor before taking Hydrocortisone Tablets.
Do not take Hydrocortisone Tablets if you:
■ are allergic (hypersensitive) to hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of Hydrocortisone Tablets
■ have thrush, candida or any other fungal infection.
If you are not sure talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Hydrocortisone Tablets.
Take special care with Hydrocortisone Tablets
Check with your doctor before taking your medicine if:
■ you have recently had a heart attack
■ you have a heart condition called congestive heart disease
■ you have septicaemia, tuberculosis (TB) or have had it in the past
■ you have a stomach ulcer or other digestive problem
■ you have chickenpox or shingles
■ you come in contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles, especially if you have not already had these illnesses or are not sure if you have had them
■ you have a herpes infection in the eye called ocular herpes simplex
■ you had muscle weakness after taking steroids in the past
■ you have recently visited a tropical country
■ you have bowel problems such as ulcerative colitis
■ you have epilepsy
■ you have thrombophlebitis (swelling and redness along a vein which is extremely tender when touched)
■ you have exanthematous disease (disease affecting the skin, rash)
■ you have metastatic carcinoma (cancer that has spread from one part of the body to another)
■ you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets for a long time increases your chance of getting infections
■ you have amoebic dysentery and an infestation of a gut worm (strongyloidiasis), it may be activated or become worse.
Also, check with your doctor if any of the following problems run in your family, or if you have any of them:
■ diabetes
■ heart problems
■ high blood pressure
■ an eye condition called 'glaucoma'
■ kidney or liver problems
■ a type of muscle weakening problem called 'myasthenia gravis'
■ thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
■ low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism).
If you are not sure if any of the above run in your family, or you have them, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a tablet.
Mental Problems while taking Hydrocortisone Tablets
Mental problems can happen while taking steroids like Hydrocortisone Tablets (see also section 4 Possible side effects).
■ These illnesses can be serious.
■ Usually they start within a few days or weeks of starting the medicine.
■ They are more likely to happen at high doses.
■ Most of these problems go away if the dose is lowered or the medicine is stopped.
■ However, if problems do happen they might need treatment.
Talk to a doctor if you (or someone taking this medicine), shows any signs of mental problems. This is particularly important if you are depressed, or might be thinking about suicide. In a few cases, mental problems have happened when doses are being lowered or stopped.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines including those obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines. This is because Hydrocortisone Tablets can affect the way some medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way Hydrocortisone Tablets work.
In particular do not take this medicine and tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
■ aspirin
■ medicines for fits (epilepsy) such as phenytoin,
phenobarbital, carbamazepine and primidone
■ cough and cold medicines that contain a decongestant called ephedrine
■ medicines used for TB (tuberculosis) called rifabutin or rifampicin
■ medicines used to thin the blood such as warfarin
■ water tablets (diuretics)
■ some medicines for fungal infections such as amphotericin and ketoconazole
■ a medicine for cancer called aminoglutethimide
■ some medicines for heart failure such as digoxin, furosemide or bumetanide
■ a medicine used for some infections called erythromycin
■ oral contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
■ a type of growth hormone called somatropin
■ some medicines for high blood pressure
■ some medicines for heart disease such as guanethidine, isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide dinitrate and theophylline
■ medicines sometimes used for asthma, low blood pressure or in cough and cold remedies called sympathomimetics
■ calcium supplements
■ medicines for pain and inflammation called NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen
■ a medicine for urea cycle disorder called sodium phenylbutyrate (usually started by a specialist doctor or consultant)
■ medicines for diabetes
■ ritonavir (a medicine used in the treatment of HIV infections)
■ methotrexate (a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis)
■ ciclosporin (a medicine used for psoriasis or in patients who have organ transplants)
■ minoxidil & hydralazine (used for antihypertensive).
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Hydrocortisone Tablets.
Hydrocortisone Tablets and infections
Infections are easier to get and harder to spot while you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets. Stay away from anyone you know with:
■ chickenpox
■ shingles
■ measles.
See your doctor if you think you may have picked up an infection.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
Steroids may cause a feeling of movement, even while you are still and this can cause you to feel dizzy (vertigo). Changes in your eyesight or muscle weakness may also happen. If you are affected you should not drive or operate machinery.
Taking Hydrocortisone Tablets with food and drink
Hydrocortisone Tablets can be taken with or without food.
Having vaccines or tests while you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets
Tell your doctor that you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets if you are to receive any vaccinations or have any diagnostic or laboratory tests. This is because steroids can affect the results of some tests.
Having surgery while you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets
If you are having surgery requiring an anaesthetic tell your doctor you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets.
Information you should carry while you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets
If you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets, get a steroid card from your pharmacist, and carry it with you. It shows what you are taking and who your doctor is in case of an emergency.
If you have an accident, fall ill or see a different doctor while taking Hydrocortisone Tablets, show them your steroid card or, tell whoever treats you that you are taking Hydrocortisone Tablets, because your dose may need to be changed.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Hydrocortisone Tablets
Hydrocortisone Tablets contain lactose, which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you cannot tolerate or digest some sugars (have an intolerance to some sugars), talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take Hydrocortisone Tablets
Always take Hydrocortisone Tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
You should take this medicine by mouth. The amount you take each day will depend on your illness. The number of tablets to be taken will be on the label of your medicine. If you are unsure about the dose you should take, you must talk to your doctor or pharmacist. The usual doses of Hydrocortisone Tablets are:
Adults
■ 20 to 30mg a day.
■ Sometimes it is taken with 4 to 6g of salt (sodium chloride) or 50 to 300 micrograms of fludrocortisone.
Children
■ 0.4 to 0.8mg a day, for every kilogram of your child's weight in two or three separate doses.
■ Children will be prescribed the lowest possible dose.
■ The doctor will keep an eye on their growth and development.
If you take more Hydrocortisone Tablets than you should
If you take too many tablets by mistake, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
If you forget to take Hydrocortisone Tablets
■ If you forget to take your dose, skip the missed dose.
■ Take the next dose as normal.
■ Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you are thinking about stopping or have recently been told to stop Hydrocortisone Tablets
It is dangerous to reduce your dose of Hydrocortisone Tablets too quickly. Stopping Hydrocortisone Tablets may leave you without enough steroid hormones in your body. This may cause withdrawal symptoms such as:
■ pains in muscles or joints
■ fever
■ general discomfort.
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you advice on how to reduce the number of tablets you take if you need to do this.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Hydrocortisone Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. People taking steroids to replace similar naturally occurring hormones, should be less likely to get side effects than, people taking steroids for other illnesses. Your doctor will want to see you now and then to look out for these effects.
Tell your doctor straight away if you notice any of these problems, or if you think you are at increased risk of infection (e.g. you have been in contact with someone who has an infection):
■ An allergic reaction such as skin rash, swelling of the face or wheezing.
■ Irregular or very fast or slow pulse, faintness.
■ Muscle cramps or spasms.
■ Pseudotumorcerebri in children (raised pressure within the skull, indicated by headaches with vomiting, listlessness and drowsiness); this usually occurs after treatment is stopped.
■ Nausea, vomiting.
■ Burst or bleeding ulcers (indicated by stomach pain especially if it seems to spread to your back, bleeding from the back passage, black stools or vomiting with blood in the vomit).
■ Acute pancreatitis (abdominal pain, possibly accompanied by shock, i.e. low blood pressure with decreased output of urine and often loss of consciousness).
■ A worsening of sight.
■ Thrombosis (a blood clot in a vein in your leg, symptoms of which are a swollen, red, hot, tender muscle).
■ Thromboembolism (a blood clot which may go to the lung, symptoms of which are sudden chest pain and coughing up blood).
■ Heart failure - problems with the pumping of your heart indicated by swollen ankles, chest pain, difficulty in breathing and palpitations or irregular beating of the heart, irregular or very fast or slow pulse; hypertension (high blood pressure, indicated by headaches, or generally feeling unwell).
Steroids including Hydrocortisone Tablets can cause serious mental health problems. These are common in both adults and children. They can affect about 5 in every 100 people taking medicines like Hydrocortisone Tablets.
■ Feeling depressed, including thinking about suicide.
■ Feeling high (mania) or moods that go up and down.
■ Feeling anxious, having problems sleeping, difficulty in thinking or being confused and losing your memory.
■ Feeling, seeing or hearing things which do not exist. Having strange and frightening thoughts, changing how you act or having feelings of being alone.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Effects on your digestive system
■ Swollen abdomen.
■ Ulcers or thrush in the gullet (discomfort on swallowing).
■ Indigestion.
■ Bloating.
■ Hiccups.
Effects on your muscles and bones
■ Muscle weakness or wasting.
■ Osteoporosis (brittle bones - bones that break easily).
■ Broken bones or fractures.
■ Breakdown of bone due to poor circulation of blood (pain in the hip).
■ Aseptic necrosis (joint inflammation in the knee and groin).
■ Torn muscle tendons (pain and/or swelling).
Effects on your body water and salts
■ Cramps and spasms due to the loss of the potassium salts from your body. In rare cases, loss of potassium can lead to palpitations (an uneven beating of your heart that you become aware of).
Effects on your hormones and metabolic system
■ Suppression of normal growth in children.
■ Irregular or no periods in women.
■ Increased hair on the body and face in women.
■ Round or moon-shaped face.
■ Increased appetite and weight gain.
■ Increase in blood sugar levels, breakdown of body protein stores (loss of weight and muscle loss in arms or legs), loss of calcium and nitrogen.
Effects on your skin
■ thin or delicate skin, bruising, red or purple spots
■ slow healing of cuts or wounds
■ acne, sweating, redness
■ stretch marks
Effects on your eyes
■ changes in vision as a result of cataracts or glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye)
■ thinning of the surface of the eye
■ eye infections may get worse
■ bulging eyes
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Hydrocortisone Tablets
■ Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
■ Store in the original container. Protect from light.
■ Do not store above 25°C.
■ Do not use Hydrocortisone Tablets after the expiry date, which is marked on the outside of the pack. The expiry date refers to the last date of that month.
■ If your doctor decides to stop treatment, return any leftover tablets to your pharmacist. Only keep them if your doctor tells you to.
■ If your tablets appear to be discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, please return to your pharmacist who will advise you.
■ Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicine no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Further information
What Hydrocortisone Tablets contain
The active ingredient in Hydrocortisone Tablets is hydrocortisone. Each tablet contains 10mg of hydrocortisone. The other ingredients are: lactose, magnesium stearate and maize starch.
What Hydrocortisone Tablets look like and contents of the pack
The tablet is white, oval shaped, sectioned into quarters on one side and marked 'HYD10' on the reverse.
Hydrocortisone Tablets are available in bottles containing 25 tablets.
Manufacturer
Your medicine is manufactured by: Tiofarma B.V., BenJamm Franklinstraat 9, 3261LW Oud-Beljerland, The Netherlands.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by: Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd., Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, DN3 1QR.
Product Licence holder: Landmark Pharma Ltd., 7 Regents Drive, Prudhoe, Northumberland, NE42 6PX.
PL No: 21828/0303
Further information about your condition may be available from The Pituitary Foundation, P.O. Box 1944, Bristol, BS99 2UB Telephone: 0845 450 0375
(The Pituitary Foundation is an independent organization, it is not associated with Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Ltd. or Landmark Pharma Ltd.).
If you wish to receive this leaflet in Braille, large font or audio format please contact 01302 365000 and ask for the Regulatory Department.
Leaflet Revision and Issue date (Ref): 27.05.14
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